Record card counting, stacking, and conveying mechanism



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June 23, 1953 F. M. CARROLL 2,642,787

' *RECORD CARD COUNTING, STACKING. AND CONVEYING MECHANISM OriginalFiled May 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 vlNvlaNT'oR FRED M; CARROLL Bf/64d i`ATTORNEY June 23, 1953 F. M. CARROLL RECORD CARD COUNTING, STACKING.AND CONVEYING MECHANISM original Filed May 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 3June 23, 1953 F. M, CARROLL C 2,642,787

RECORD CARD COUNTING, STACKING. AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Original FiledMay 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR FKEQ M. 7W/@LL SYM/M .'.TTORNEYJune 23, 1953 F. M. CARROLL y2,642,787

RECORD CARD COUNTING, sTAcxING. AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Original FiledMay 12, 1949 a sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR FRED. M RLL ATroRNEYA June 23,1953 F. M. CARROLL 2,642,737v

RECORD CARD COUNTING, STACKING. AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Original FiledMay l2, 1949 8 Sheets-Shoe?l 6 l INVEN-ron Fff M. @Ak/eau BY M ATTORNEYJune 23, 1953 F. M. CARROLL RECORD CARD COUNTING, sTAcKING. ANDCONVEYING MECHANISM original Filed Nay 12, 1949 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 FRED MUAH/@0U ATTORNEY June 23, 1953 F. M. CARROLL RECORD CARD COUNTING.STACKING. AND CONVEYING MECHANISM Original Filed May 12, 1949 8Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR F/QED M. [Af/(Uli. avm/A ATTORNEY Patented June23, 1953 RECORD CARD coUN'rING, tsrAoxiNo. AND CONVEYING MEcHANisM FredM. Carroll, Binghamton, N. Y., assigner to Internationalk BusinessMachines Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Yorkoriginal application Mayl 12, 1949,` serial No. 92,822. Divided and thisapplication February 16, 1951, Serial No. 211,416

3 Claims. (Cl. 93-93) This invention relates to a machine for processingrecord cards. More particularly, the aspects of the machine to whichthis application is directed comprise card counting, stacking and f froma card magazine in step-by-step 'relationto the punching unit and to theprinting device. Finally, the mechanism shown in that application and towhich the present application is particularly directed provides-forcounting, stacking land transporting record cards that have been'processed in the machine.

It is, therefore, an objectof the present invention to provide improvedmeans for counting cards that have been processed' and'for arrangingsuch cards in stacks of predetermined numbers.

It is a further object of the invention to provide card controlledmechanism for rendering inoperative the card counter if for any reasonthe printing section of the machine failsto deliver 'therefrom a recordcard. y

It is still a further object of the invention' to provide improved cardcounting and stacking mechanism, which is operatively associated with a'take-off conveyor for removing stacks of processed cards ofpredetermined numbers from the operative orbit of the machine.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following specification in light ofthe drawings formingapart of this application, and in which drawings;

Fig. l is a plan view of the card counting, stack'- ing and conveyingmechanism; y

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the mechanism shown in Fig. l; f

Fig. 3 is a view on line V3---3 of Fig. l;

Fig. A4 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken on .line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a. detail view on une 5 5 of Figa; Fig. 6 is a detail viewtaken at right angles to Fig. 5 and having overlying parts thereofremoved to show underlying structure -pending lever` 30.

substantial movement until the cam' followerf28 reaches an area 38 inthe depending cam lever. vAt .this time the cam lever will rock inacounterkclockwise direction, with the result that the sup- 'leve'r 3S.'tatcd in a clockwise direction under the influence Record cardsdischarged from the card punching unit of the aforesaid Carrollapplication are advanced in step-by-step relation along a con- 'veyor`I0 at the end of which they enter a printing mechanism l2, whereinserial numbers are printed on the cards. From the printing mechanism I2.

` the cards advance through a card counting mechanism I4 (Fig. y2) atwhich point the cards are stacked in groups of predetermined numbers,after which they are further handled by Iconveying mechanism I6, whichis eliective to remove the counted stacks of cards from the `operatingorbit ofthe machine. The present application is concerned with the cardcountingmechanism I4, the card conveying mechanism IE, and the necessarycontrol instrumentalities which permit these features of the machine tooperate synchronously with the passage of cards through the variousprocessing stations. l Y

Mechanism forfsensing the regular and progressive progress `of cardsthrough the machine is under the control of a cam I8 mountedfor rotationwith the cam shaft 20 (Fig. 1). The cam i8 controls the motion of aforwardly extending crank shaft 22.` The forward end of the crank lshaft22 is pivoted on' afplate 24 (Fig.'3), which is mounted for rockingmovement on a stud shaft 26. A rearwardly extending arm 28 of the plate24 is in contact with a depending cam lever 30, the lever being pivotedfor rocking movement on a pin 32. The depending cam lever 30 has arearwardly projecting vear 34. which providesa support for a lever 36.When the cam I8 is rotating, the operating shaft 22 will be reciprocatedvand consequentlyl roolr the plate 24 about its stud shaft mounting 26.As the plate 24 is rocked in la clockwise` direction, the rearwardlyprojecting arm 28 movesalongrthe cam surface of the de- The ear 34 isheld without portv of the ear 34 will be withdrawn from the At such timethe lever .36 will beroof` a spring unless a card is at the printingstationin overlying relation to a card sensing rod, as fully describedin the parentapplication.

Incase no card is present, the before-described "sequence of operationsinhibiting the advanceof the numbering wheels takes place. The foregoingi Amechanism'is more fully described in the Fred M.r vCarrollapplication mentioned in the iirstparagraphhereinabove. Inismiwhich isresponsive to the presence or the Since lthe control mechaabsence of arecord card forms no important part of the present application, a moredetailed description is deemed unnecessary.

There is included herein a card counting mechanism, which is under thecontrol of the rocking plate 24. Mounted on an upstandin'g,r frame part42 (Fig. 3) at a point to the rear of a pair of feed rollers 44 and 46are a plurality of number wheels 48. These wheels are adapted'to berotated about a shaft 50 for counting the 'cards that have beenprocessed at the punching and-printing stations. The shaft 50 alsosupports a yoke 52. with which is assembled a number wheel detent 54,which is effective upon rocking movement of the yoke 52 to engageandrotfale the "riumberm wheels in step-by-step relation and to transferrotary motion between wheels for transferring values of lower order toeach successive 'higher order. The counter is of conventional structure,and a detailed descriptionthereof is deemed unnecessary. It issufficient herein to describe how .the counter is specifically combinedwith the machine forperforming its intended function.

The yoke 52 includes a laterally projecting arm Vwhich is effective toposition the number wheel detent 54 for rotation of an associatednumbering wheel or number wheels on the return stroke of the operatingbar 60. Reference will now be made to the manner in which the operatingbar 60 is actuated.

A linkage system (Fig. 3) is disposed between and connects the plate 24and the operating bar 60, whereby movement of the plate is transmittedto the operating bar. Herein the linkage system is illustrated asconsisting of a lever 66, which Ahas one end thereof pivoted to theplate 24 by means of a pivot pin 68. The upper end of the lever 66 ispivoted to an angularly disposed link by means of a pivot pin 12. Thelink 10 is mounted on a frame stud 14 for rocking move'- ment thereon.The link 10 includes a lip 16, which projects rearwardly beyond thepivot point 12, constituting an actuating member. The actuating lip 16is adapted to engage a shoulder 18, which Vis formed in one edge of theoperating bar 60. Engagement between the actuating lip 16 and theshoulder 18 is normally established when the bar 60 hangs in a normallyvertical position. It 'will be shown hereinafter that'means has :beenprovided for moving the bar out of its normal vertical position todisable the counting mechanism upon failure of regular passage of a cardthrough the printing station.

When the link 10 is rocked in a counterclockwise direction and theactuating lip 16 thereof engages the shoulder 18 of the operating vbar6l, the operating bar '60 moves upwardly and rocks the yoke 52 on anoperative stroke against the tension of the spring 62. This is themanner Ain which the number wheels 48 Aare advanced in 'stepby-stepfashion to count the vcards passing through the printing station. Inorder that Ha safeguard be provided against the possibility vof`operating the number Wheels 48 upon failure of regular passage of a cardthrough the printing station, there is provided a control mechanismresponsive to the operation of the card controlled lever 36. The counterbarr60has a. guide slot in which operates a slot follower 82, which iscarried on one arm of a plate 84 pivoted for rocking movement on a framestud 86. Pivoted to an angularlydisposed extension 88 of the plate 84 isa contact finger 80. The contact finger 90 is urged in a clockwisedirection by a spring 92, which has one end thereof anchored in anupwardly extending ear 94 formed as a part of the 'contact 'finger 9|and the other end thereof in an anchor stud 96, which extends outwardlyfrom the rear face of the plate 84. As a result, the Contact flngfer isnormally held in an elevated position. The number wheel bar 60 ismounted on the arm 56 with sufficient clearance to permit Y, the b'afr`to rock slightly in a vertical plane. The

rocking 'movement permitted is sufficient to withdraw the :sh'o'ulder 18from the operating zone of the vflange 16. Depression of the Contactfinger 90 and the resultant rocking of the plate 84 is effective toswing the operating bar 60 for the purpose of moving the shoulder 18 outof the operative lzone of the plate 16. YIn order that the Ynumberwheelbar may be rocked in this manner, the contact finger 90 has provided atthe free end thereof aV face '98, which underlies an exten- 'sion |00 ofthe card controlled lever 3E. The face 98 and the extension |00 arespaced from each other sufciently that the normal limited Yrocking ofthe lever 36 is ineffective to rock the Contact nge'r'ilu and the numberwheel b'ar 60 ultimately controlled thereby. However, upon full'movement of the lever 36, which occurs only when a card. is absent atthe' card sensing station.

Ythe eit'ens'ion |00 abuts the face 98 and rocks the tion, they aredelivered 'to an elevator |04 constituting thejbot'tomof a card receiveror rack |08 (Figs. l, 4 and 7). The cards pass from the platen of the.printing mechanism 'through a first set of rear feed .rollers |08 andIID and through `a card guide grid v| I2, from where they are dischargedby a second set of rear feed rollers ||4 and ||8 linto the card rack|06. In order that the cards accumulating in the card rack |06 may beevenly stacked, there'is provided in conjunction with the card rack |06card evening devices ||8 and |20. Device ||8 consists of a transversebar, whichl is adapted to move up and down at the discharge side of theAfeed rollers I |4 and ||B to assure that the trailing end of a cardpasses into the rack |06. The bar IIB is affixed at its ends to the endsof levers |22 keyed to an oscillating transverse shaft |24. One end ofshaft |24 has attached thereto a card aligner operating arm |26. rIhearm |28 extends downwardly into the operative orbite-'f the lever 66(Fig. 3). The lever E5 has formedtherein a cam face |28, against whichrests a follower |30 carried at the end of the lever |26. As the lever'86 is rocked,

shaft |24 will Ybe oscillated, with the result that aligning member |20is oscillated back and forth with periodic regularity.

The cards issuing from the feed rollers I |4 and I0 are stacked ingroups of predetermined numbers on the elevator platform |04, andstacking of such cards is under the control of the number wheel assembly48. lowing description, a shutter I 38 (Figs. 1, 6 and 7) Cil As willappear from the folis supported on the upper end of a shutter shaft |40,the shaft being supported forr oscillating movement in suitable framebearings |42 and I 44. The shutter is swung in a counterclookwisedirection under the influence of a spring |46, so that its normalposition is over the cards on the card elevator platform, During thestacking of cards on the elevator platform, the shutter |38 is latchedin a retracted position. The. shutter shaft |1510 is rocked in aclockwise direction to retract the shutter, and the shaft is latched insuch retracted position by means of a latched lever iflt fixed to thelower end of the shutter shaft. rlhe latch lever |46 is adapted toengage behind a flange |50, which projects into the path of the latchlever, and which is pivoted on a stud G52 (Fig. 5) for rocking movementthereabout means of a spring 206.

yond the latch flange, the flange is retracted k into latching positionbehind the lever by means of a spring |58. A stud |58 limits thedownward movement ofthe latch flange |56.

The latch is under the control of afcounter actuated release linkage,best illustratedin Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings. The number wheels 48are recessed between the number thereon for the purpose of selectivelyreceiving a release pin adapted to extend outwardly in a radial-directhelever is rocked thereby in a clockwise direction and the motion thereofis transmitted to a shaft |555, on which is secured a shift lever |66,the lower end of which is in contact with a collar its carried by asliding rod |10 mounted in the spaced flanges |12 of the latch |50.

The sliding rod |10 is normally urged to the right Fig. 5 by means of aspring |14', which is coiled about the rod and bears at its one endagainst the flange |12 and at its other end against a collar I1 il thatis xed to the rod. In order to temporarily maintain the slidingrod inits shifted or left-hand position, there is provided on the shaft |18 ofthe latch ange |10 a rod latching device |80. The rod latch |80 is urgedabout its supporting shaft in a clockwise direction by means of a spring|82, so that .the tendency ol the rod latch is to move in that directionunless restrained from doing so.` Herein the collar |59 constitutes therod latch restraint. The collar lies in Contact with an ear |84 of thelatch and holds it in a depressed position against the tension of thespring. When, however, the shift lever itt moves the rod |10 to -tsleft-hand position,` the latch ear |64 springs upwardly behind thecollar |68 and prevents movement of the collar toward theright until therod latch |60 has been restored to its original position.

When ther sliding rod |82 has been moved into the left-hand position, aprojecting end |86 thereof will lie in the path of a shoulder |88 formedinthe adjacent surfaceof the link 10. Upon rocking motion'of theflink10, the shoulder |88 will abut the extending end |86 of the latch rodand will rock the latch on its pivot |52, thereby withdrawing the flangethereof out of contact with the end |54 of the latch lever |48. ThisArelease sets in vmotion the card shutter yand .clutches the cam shaft|90 (Fig. 3) for rotation,

` as will appear more directly from the following.

The cam shaft |90 has thereon a one-revolution clutch |92, which isadapted to be clutched into operative relation with the cam shaft bymeans of a pawl |94, which is pvoted by means of a pivot pin |96to aclutch plate 98. The

clutch plate |98 in turn is fixed to the rear cam shaft |90and therebyrotation is transmitted to the shaft when the clutch device is inoperation.

The pawl |94 is normally urged toward the teeth of the clutch |92 by aspring 200, and such spring is effective for its purpose upon release ofa clutch latchv 282. The clutch latch is pivoted for rocking movement ona pivot shaft 204, and the same is urged toward the'clutch mechanism by-rcludes an abutment surface 208 adapted to lie in the path of arearwardly extending arm 2|0 of the pawl |94. As a consequence, theclutch latch ALis-eilective to swing fthe clutch pawl 'into inoperativeposition when the rearwardly extend- -ing arm' 2|0'abuts the abutmentsurface 208 of the latch structure. Rotary movement of the clutch plateand of the rearoam shaft is impossible thereafter until the clutch latchis withdrawn to permit the ypawl to move into contact with the clutchteeth forv another revolution of 4the clutch plate and cam shaft.

The withdrawal of the clutch latch 202 is accomplished by the oppositeend 2|2 of the latch lever |48 mounted on the lower end of the shuttershaft. The latch lever |48 has a vdownwardly turned flange 2|4, which isangularly disposed on theend-of the lever to constitute a cam surface.

vcard rack |06 rin overlying position withA reference to cardsthatmayhave. been deposited on the elevator platform |04.v Furtherdeposit of cards on such pile is, therefore, prevented. A further resultof operation of the latch lever |48 is the release of the pawl |94 fromthe restraint of the clutch latch 202, A thereby permitting the spring200 to project the pawl |94 into contact with the clutch teeth |92.Thereby the clutch plate |98 and the rearcam shaft |90 are placed underrotation.-

Since the lever 10 is swinging upon its pivot 14 without effect on thesliding rodl |10 (Fig/5), the nextoperation in point of time is therestoration of the sliding rod |10 to its original righthand position,thereby restoring the latching mechanism for againlatching the latchlever |48 at a later point in the cycle. The rod |10 is restored underthe influence of the restoring spring |14 upon withdrawal of the flangefinger |84 from behind the collar |68. Such withdrawal is .accomplishedwhen ,-a restoring pawl. 2 I 8 moves The clutch latch 202 inl intocontact with an ear '220 of the rod latch. Such restoration takes place'upon the next succeeding operation of the link 10. As the link rocks ina clockwise direction, the restoring pawl 2|8 moves into contact withthe ear 220 and moves the Whole rod latch |80 in a counterclockwisedirection against the influence of the spring |82. As soon as the finger|84 has been withdrawn from behind thecollar |68, the rod moves to theright under the influence of the spring |14 and the whole latchingmechanism is, therefore, reconditioned.

When the cam shaft |80 is rotated, an elevator cam 222 (Figs. 4 and 8)first becomes effective to lower the elevator |04 into the operativezone of a conveyor mechanism. The elevator |04 Vis guided in itsreciprocatory movement by a pair of oppositely disposed guide members224, which include a groove '226, into which laterally extendingvilanges of the elevator extend. The elevator is supported on a shaft228 which extends through the base oi' the machine, and which issuppor-ted in its lower end by a pair of springs 230 anchored at one endlto a shaft bracket 232 and at the other end to anchor studs 234.The-elevator yshaft 228 is guided for movement .by a pair of 'oppositelydisposed guide rollers 236 supported on the 'free end of a guide bracketl238. It follows, therefore, that the elevator 1| 04 lis spring loadedand the same may yield under the `weight of cards disposed thereon.Operative means has, V-rnoreover, been provided for actuating Atheelevator |04, and such means is operative in vconjunction with theelevator cam l222 (Fig-8).

A 'cam arm 240 Ais pivoted for movement about a supporting shaft 242,and the yfree Vend thereof is attached to -theelevator shaft 22B bymeans cfa lpin and slot connection 244, 'Movement of the elevator camfarm 240 is under the -eontrol of the elevator Scam 222 through theinterposition of an elevatcrcam'following arm 246. `Theelevator camfollowing arm '246 is mounted for 'rocking movement about ja vbearngshaft 248, and Vthe arm .includes 1an upwardly extending 4portion '250,which Acarries a rfollower roller I252, 'and which roller lies incontactwith a cam finger 254-'ofthe cam arm l2-48. YTheelevator-cam A'222 isrst efffective to-depress the cam arm 240 sufilcientlyto place theplatform A|124 under -the plane of ya pair-of :conveyor belts i258-(Fig. 4), and the contour vof the elevator-cam assembly is such 'as tovhold `the elevator in its depressed or discharge Iposition -until ith-e-conveyor structure has been operated -to mcveadeposited stack ci cards'out of the zone of elevator-operation.

Following theiunctional operation of the -elevator device, aconveyorcambecomes-operative to rock-a conveyor sector i260 (Figi-i). 'Theconveyor sector is Vmounted for rocking movement on the bearing shaftl248 fand-the same -includes an arm which extends rearwardly -to 'apoint behind Vthe `cam shaft |80 4and then `forwardly 2and upwardly.where its upper ffree -end lcarries afconveyor cam follower 262. Anintermediate portion of the conveyorfsectorv is'provided with a secondcam 'follower 264. Themen- (veyor-cain-2581is adapted'to rockltheconveyor sector 260 `*about the shaft 248 to intermittently operatea-conveyor or off-take mechanism (Fig. 4) whichis nowfto be Adescribed.

Supported from'themachine base'is-afconveyor frame 26S, onf-which issupported farpair 'of conveyor sills 268, on opposite ends 'of which aremounted pulleys 2-10 for operatively supporting the-'conveyor belts-256.The'pulleys'at the 4rear of? 'the "conveyor are @mounted Y'for 'rotation#with a shaft 212. The shaft 212 has attached thereto a clutch deviceconsisting of a clutch pinion 214 and a notched disc 218, both adaptedfor free rotation. A spring pressed clutch dog 218 is carried by thepulley 210 in operative relation to the notched clutch plate 216. Theconveyor sills 268 support a plurality of spaced rollers 280, on whichthe conveyor belts 256 are adapted to rest. 'The conveyor belts 256 areof the endless kind, which are trained about the end pulleys 210 of theconveyor assembly.

It is evident that rotation of the clutch pinion 214 herein in acounterclockwise direction will operate to advance the conveyor belts256, and in this respect it is noted that the clutch dog 218 operativelyengages the notch in the plate 216 only in counterclockwise rotativemovement. In other words, when the pinion 214 is rotated in a clockwisedirection, the same rotates freely on the kshaft 212 Without operativeeffect on the conveyor pulleys. The conveyor sector 260 has a toothsegment 26|, which is in driving contact with the clutch pinion 214. Therelation of the conveyor cam 258 to the elevator cam 222 is such thatthe elevator is depressed and held in such depressed position prior tothe operation of the conveyor. Upon depression of the elevator, theconveyor cam becomes effective to move a stack of cards out of theoperative zone of the elevator platform |04, and it is only after theconveyor cam 'has 'completed its operative movement that the elevatorcam permits the elevator to rise again toits upper position under theinfluence of the springs 230.

In the meanwhile, a shutter cam 282 (Figs. 4 and 8) is conditioned torotate the shutter shaft |40 into a retracted clockwise direction uponreturn of the elevator to its card receiving position. Thehigh point ofthe shutter cam 232 is adapted to bear against a cam roller 224, whichis carried by a shutter lever 286, the same being pivoted on the bearingshaft 248. The upper end of the shutter lever 286 is joined to a shutteroperating link 288, which in turn has a pivotal connection with thelatch lever |43. Immediately after the elevator has returned to its cardreceiving position, the high points of the shutter cam y282 will ride incontact with the cam roller 284, thereby swinging the shutter lever 236in a counterclockwise direction about the bearing shaft 248. Thismovement will serve to operate the shutter operating link-'202 withconsequent rocking of the shutter shaft and its attached latch lever|48. At the extreme of the shutter lever movement, the one end ofthelatch lever |48 will again engage behind the shutter latchingstructure |50 and the other end will release the clutch latch 202 (Fig.3), permitting the same to return to clutch pawl engaging position.VUpon the return of the clutch pawl |94 into contact with the pawl latch208, the clutch mechanism of the shaft |90 is disabled and the wholemechanism is again reconditioned for a subsequent cycle of operation.

During operation of the mechanism, the cards are discharged to theplatform |04 of the card elevator, and in the process of vpassing fromthe printing station the cards are counted by the number wheels 48,these wheels being driven through the constantly operating shaft 22, therock plate 24, the lever 68, the operating bar 60, and the Ayoke 52.Normal transfer of values between orders represented by the wheels takesplaceina conventional manner. The wheels 48 of ,the counter assemblycontinue to register the discharged .to the elevator platform 9 so longas the operating bar is permitted to hang substantially vertically andthereby establishcontact between the lever and the shoulder 'E0 of thebar. This position of the operating bar is normal `and maintains so longas cards are `passing through the printing station in normal step-'cy-step order. Howeven upon failure of normal card passage, the lever36,' which is controlled ultimately by the card sensing mechanismhereinabove referred to, will then be permitted to drop under theinfluence of the spring 40"and through the intervening linkage, theoperating bar 60 will be tilted out of its vertical' alignment andtheshoulder 18 thereof will be withdrawn fromthe operating zone of itsassociated actuating lever.

with the result that the number wheel advancing mechanism is disabled.-'Y

The number of cards to .bedeposited on the elevator |04, is determinedby prepcsitioning a radially extending pin in the face of any onekof thenumber wheels. As the radially extending pin rotates, it eventuallycomes in contact with the release lever |50 (Fig. 5), which is effectiveto rock the latch release lever |66, thereby releasing the spring biasedshutter |38, which then springs into overlying position with respect tothe cards on the card receiving elevator. charge of cards from. theprinting station will be received b-y the shutter until the elevatormechanism has performed its intended function and has again returned toits elevated card receiving position.

The release of the shutter |30, which is horizontally positioned at theupper end of the shutter shaft |40, is also effective to renderoperative the cam shaft |90 by releasing the one revolution clutchdevice associated therewith. The downturned cam flange 2 |4 on therearwardly extending arm 2 l2 at the lower end of the shutter shaft R40is adapted to contact and swing the upturned part 2lb formed at the freeend of the clutch latch 202. When the clutch latch 202 is rocked aboutitsypivot shaft 204, the pawl |94 carried by the cam plate |98 ispermitted to drop into contact with the teeth of the clutch |92, therebyoperatively connecting the cam shaft |90 with its source of lpower andthereby rotating the elevator cam 222, the conveyor cam 258 and theshutter cam 282. The elevator cam 222 is first effective to lower theelevator platform |04 through the instrumentality of the elevator cam.arm 240, the elevator platform |04 being lowered to a .point below theflights of the endless conveyor belts 255, thereby depositing the cardson the conveyor belts. The elevator cam 222 is so shaped as to hold theelevator platform in depressed position until the conveyor cam 258operates to advance the conveyor belts 259. This latter function followswhen the conveyor sector 260 is rotated in contact with the one-wayclutch device 214, which is carried on the forward conveyor shaft l212.After the cards have been moved out ofthe operative zone of theelevator, the elevator cam 222 again releases the elevator, whereupon itagain rises to its card receiving position. As the elevator approachesits upper limit of movement, the shutter cam 282 will retract theshutter |38, depositing any cards on the shutter upon the elevatorplatform. The shutter isretracted against the tension of the springthrough the shutter lever 286 and the shutter operating link 288, whichmove the shutter latch lever 48, an-dparticularly its twisted end |54,into contact withthe latch |50, whereby the latch lever |48 is held inFurther disretracted position pending a subsequent opera#- tion of thedevice. v

Driving power'is imparted to the mechanism through a main drive shaft290 which terminatesv beyond a frame bearing bracket 292, and on the endof the drive shaft 290 is a bevel gear`294, which lies in drivingcontact with a bevel gear 296 attached to the cam shaft 20. The camshaft carries a gear 298 from which power is derived for driving boththe printing mechanism and thel y no particular bearing on the operationof 4the card counting, stacking and conveying mechanism of thisapplication, the details thereof need not be set forth here.

The last gear of the reduction train 302 drives a gear 304 which isfixed to the rear cam shaft |90, thereby transmitting operative. powerto theA mechanismincluded in the card counting,

y stacking and conveying apparatus. Thegear 304 .also drives a gear 306which isin contact with and 4drives the gear 44 of a lower feed rollershaft 308 of the rear pair (Fig, 3). The gear 44 in turn is in contactwith the gear 46 which is afiixed to the upper feed roller 3|0 of therear pair of feed rollers. In the train of gears 302 is a long gear 3| 2adapted to drive a gear 3 |4 which is attached to the drive shaft of theprinting mechanism. Thus it will appear'that the counting function ofthe counting wheels is controlled through the cam rod 22 While the powerrequired for operating the printing unit |2 and the card stacking andconveying mechanism at the rear of the card" printing unit is obtainedthrough the rotary n 1 main drive shaft 290.

A single operative embodiment of the machine has been shown herein forthe purpose of teaching the invention. It is, however, contemplated thatchanges may be made in the specific structure for carrying forward theinvention which is defined in the following claims. f

What is claimed is:

V1. In a record card processing machine, a card processing station, acard receiving elevator located adjacent said station, means fordelivering cards from said station to said elevator, a rotatable devicefor counting and registering cards delivered from said station` a cardshutter, means for biasing said card shutter into a plane overlying saidelevator to receive delivery of said cards from said processing station,means for latching said shutter against the infiuence of said biasingmeans, settable means carried by said card counter and register androtatable therewith for effecting release of said shutter into cardreceiving position upon delivery to said elevator of a number of cardspredetermined by the setting of said settable means, and means undercontrol of said cards from said station to said elevator, arotatablejdevice for counting and registering cards delivered from saidstation, a card shutter, means for biasing said shutter into a planeoverlying said elevator to receive delivery of cards from said l1processing station, means for latching said shutter against theiniiuence of said biasing means, settable means carried by said cardcounting and registering device and rotatable therewith for releasingsaid shutter into card receiving position upon delivery to said elevatorof a number of cards predetermined by the setting of said settabiemeans, means under control 0f said shutter releasing means thereaftereffective to retract said elevator and a cam device under control ofsaid shutter releasing means operative to restore said shutter to itslatched position and said elevator to card receiving position.

3. In a card processing machine, a card processing station, an endlesscard conveyor, a card elevator located adjacent said station and mountedfor movement between said station and said conveyor, means fordelivering cards from said station to said elevator, a card shutter,means for biasing said shutter into a pla-ne overlying said elevator toreceive delivery of cards from said processing station, means forlatching said shutter against the influence of said biasing means, adevice for counting and registering cards delivered from said station,settable means carried by said card counting and registering deviceoperv12 ative upon said shutter latching means for releasing saidshutter into card receiving position upon delivery to said elevator of anumber of cards predetermined by the setting of said settabie means,means rendered effective by the release o! said shutter latching meansfor depressing said elevator into the operative orbit of said conveyorand thereafter advancing said conveyor to move the cards from saidelevator. and means rendered operative by the release of said shutterlatching means to restore said elevator to card receiving position androtate said shutter out of said card receiving position.

FRED M. CARROLL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

